Do it! Our big one recently bit the dust due to being used constantly for years. We replaced it with a Cuisinart 4-cup model that not only steams rice, but is capable of steaming fish and veggies as well! It's nice and compact (perfect for our small kitchen) and makes plenty of rice for our family.

I'm Japanese and grew up eating rice only from a rice cooker. I don't know that I've ever had rice cooked on the stove aside from in a restaurant! We always had a National brand rice cooker but my current rice cooker is a Zojirushi brand. I've had it for 10 years and it makes perfect rice every time.

Over the years I have had several rice cookers. (It is used daily, so I tend to burn them out) I have tried several brands and have found that there is not much difference between them. BUT I have never bought a cheap one (Always paid over $50.00 for them)

We found a deal on rice cookers at Walgreens last year. We bought three of them and gave two away. It will stick a little at the bottom if you let it set to long, but makes great rice with little fuss.

To make perfect rice in the microwave: Use a large glass mixing bowl. Put 1 c. rice, 2 c. cold water, 1/2 t. salt in it. Drizzle olive oil around the inside rim of the bowl, just above the water, about 1 T. total. This keeps it from boiling over. Cover with a plate, right side up, so the condensation drips back into the bowl. Microwave at 50% power for approx 30 minutes, depending on your microwave. Let sit covered for about 5 minutes after removing from the microwave.

I had a little cheapie off brand from Walgreens that was outstanding, except that it burned a little bit on the bottom sometimes. I didn't mind it though, because that little burned disk of rice is tasty too. It cost about 9 bucks. But when that gave out (I made rice every day), I just started making it in the microwave. It's quick and all you need is a deep bowl and something to cover it with (like a paper plate). Though cooking in the microwave does require a couple of stirs, where the rice cooker is set it and forget it.

Another rice cooker I had was a Black and Decker vegetable and rice steamer. That thing made excellent rice, plus, you could use it to cook a variety of other things.

I have this: http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-ARC-733-1G-3-Cup-Cooker-Steamer/dp/B001QUV8S6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295469049&sr=8-2

Or rather, the older version of that. I've had my little cooker for about 7 years now. It makes enough rice to serve up to 6 people (although right now it's just me and my husband), but it's small and compact and fits easily in the cupboard. It cooks the rice perfectly every time and within the last 5 minutes I can put fresh veggies in the steamer basket to have rice and veggies ready at once for dinner.

I've also used my cooker to make oatmeal in the morning so I didn't have to stand over the stove while getting ready for work.

Automatically shuts off and keeps rice warm when it's finished. Easy to use and maintain. Love it.

ANMRUNNER
Posts:
1,809
1/17/11 3:54 P

I got the microwave type from Target for a wedding gift and hated it. I tried at least four times and was never successful. I returned it and will now be investing in a small electric one.

I received a rice cooker for Christmas and I love it! It is so easy to use and it makes perfect rice every time. Mine is a Sanyo, 10 cup. It is a very basic model, simple to use. You just add the rice, water and press start. The only down side is finding a place to store it. It is pretty big. I could have used a smaller one. I can't see myself making 10 cups of rice, but I am very happy with with how it works and have been telling all my friends that they need to get one!

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